#throwbackthursdayReprinted from a 1975 edition of the Courier-Democrat. Vocational Education can be interesting. Pat Burris (left), a senior at Russellville High School, works in the dental office of Dr. C.D. Robertson as part of her cooperative office education program. She works 20 to 25 hours each week during the school term and full time during the summer. There are 22 students in the program, which is directed by Mrs. Mary Jane Taylor. This is National Vo...

Community people: Jennifer Van Houtte and Dr. Stephen JonesTHE COURIER / Submitted The Russellville Rotary Club recently met at Lake Point Conference Center to honor the incoming District Governor, Jennifer Van Houtte. Jennifer is the seventh member from the club to be a District Governor and the first female member of the Russellville Rotary Club to hold the position. Pictured with Van Houtte is outgoing club president Dr. Stephen Jones.

City to host statewide Main Street meetingOn Monday and Tuesday, approximately 50 representatives of Main Street Arkansas and Arkansas Downtown Network cities will be in Russellville for a quarterly training meeting. The two-day training will focus on The Main Street Refresh and be conducted by Kathy La Plante, Senior Program officer and Director of Coordinating Program Services with the National Main Street Center. "These meetings are usually held in Little Rock so this will be a gre...

Community people: Steve Wiman, Melanie Goad, Kevin Massey, Steve Zimmer and Connie Zimmer.THE COURIER / Submitted The Lions Club recently presented the Russellville Children's Department with its Summer Reading grand prizes, solid oak children's bookshelves. Children had to read 200 or more books to have their name entered in a drawing for the bookshelves. The bookshelves will be given out at their finale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Pictured are (from left) Steve Wiman, Lions Club member, Melanie Goad, children's librarian, Kevin...

Community people: Senator Tom Cotton and Brittney KeysTHE COURIER / Submitted Brittney Keys (right), daughter of James and Charla Keys, recently attended the 75th annual Arkansas Girls' State at Harding University in Searcy. She, along with approximately 900 other high school junior girls, spent the week participating in mock elections and other activities. During the week, Keys met U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton.

Community people: Holly Spear and Senator Tom CottonHolly Spear of Russellville, a member of Arkansas Young Republicans, former representative at girls state and political science major at Arkansas Tech University, interned in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Dardanelle during the first summer intern session of 2017. Cotton said Spear was a big help to him this summer and that he's always happy to see young people with an interest in government. THE COURIER / Submitted

Community people: Brittney Keys and Representative Mary BentleyTHE COURIER / Submitted Brittney Keys (left), daughter of James and Charla Keys, recently attended the 75th annual Arkansas Girls' State at Harding University in Searcy. She, along with approximately 900 other high school junior girls, spent the week participating in mock government elections and other activities. Keys was the Yell County Girls' State Representative and got to work alongside Representative Mary Bentley.

Long Pool swim area now openOfficials from the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests reopened Long Pool swimming area, they said Friday. The swim area was closed June 19 for health and safety reasons because high concentrations of E Coli were detected in the water after testing. Usually after a heavy rainfall, a variety of contaminants are carried into the water, including animal waste, which causes the need to close a swimming area. Information on swimming areas on the for...

Aquatic center open for businessThe five-year drought without an indoor community swimming pool ended Thursday when city officials cut the ribbon on the Russellville Aquatic Center. Adam Lacefield brought five children to the free opening day of the $6.6 million aquatic center and said he couldn't wait to be able to swim there in January. "It is awesome," he said. "I mean, for the kids to be able to come and swim all times of the year is great. This is such a great addition ...

Long Pool beach closed to swimmingA representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed Thursday that the Long Pool swim beach area was closed June 19 after testing by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) indicated that levels of E. coli bacteria exceeded bacteriological standards. Laurie Driver of the Corps of Engineers said she discovered the closure was indicated on the ADH website, after her office received calls that Greers Ferry Lake was closed to swimming du...

The Chronicle says good-byeATKINS -- The weekly newspaper that was a mainstay in Atkins and Pope County and dated back to 1894 published its last edition Wednesday. The Chronicle, what was previously known as The Atkins Chronicle and The Dover Times, rolled off the press for the last time. Billy Reeder, who along with his wife Paula, purchased the Chronicle and Times from former owners Van A. and Ginnie Tyson, said they tried to streamline operations as much as possible...

Reprinted from a 1974 edition of the Courier-DemocratReprinted from a 1974 edition of the Courier-Democrat. Dover homecoming royalty -- Glenda Greenhouse (center), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Greenhouse, was crowned 1973-74 homecoming queen at Dover High School. She is a junior. Senior high maid Debbie Nichols (left) is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Nichols. She is a sophomore. Junior high maid Pam Standridge is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Standridge.

Community people: Rhonda Horton, Laura Hasten, Lori Kamerling and Jason UlspergerTHE COURIER / Submitted Rhonda Horton, Laura Hasten, Lori Kamerling and Jason Ulsperger recently presented information about the River Valley Purple Angel Advocate Project to the Russellville Lions Club. The Purple Angel Project is focused on making the River Valley a dementia-friendly community through education and training for businesses in Russellville and the surrounding areas.